A Buddhist school in Northern California

International Peace Day Walk 2018

On September 21st, all the students of Instilling Goodness / Developing Virtue Girls School participated in the Peace Walk. It began from the girls elementary school to the entrance gate of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB). Students, accompanied by teachers and parents, were in high spirits as they held multi-colored peace signs. At the ring of a bell, the girls linked arms and marched onward, heads held high with smiles.

DVGS students, teachers, and parents joined forces for Peace Walk.

Upon reaching the Mountain Gate of the CTTB, 7th to 12th graders proceeded to Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) where they met other students. The students of both schools met in a nearby field. With the sun beating down warmly on our backs, we made a peace circle with hands clasped with one another. Though we were all strangers meeting for the first time, we all shared a common goal for peace. With hands joined, we shared our statements on peace.

Peace Circle at MCOE

Through this small gathering of friendship, we made a small step toward peace. Through our individual statements on peace, we made affirmations in our hearts. Peace cannot be attained just by wishing for it. It grows through one’s actions of friendship. It is great to know that peace is still possible.

Video compiled/edited by Iris Ng (class of 2021). Photographs contributed by Jocelyn He and Thanh Tieu (class of 2020), Sola Long (class of 2021), Rachel Blythe and Thuy Nguyen (class of 2022). Article contributed by Heidi Blythe (class of 2022).